Effect of Temperature on Hydraulic Parameters of Cable-In-Conduit-Conductor of SST-1

Stable operation of superconducting magnets depend critically on the balance of heat deposition rate versus heat extraction rate by the cryo-coolant. Thus, the mass flow rate of the coolant in case of force-flow cooled superconducting magnet with Cable-In-Co-nduit-Conductor (CICC) construction becomes an important factor for optimum stability of magnets. The Toroidal and Poloidal Field magnets of Steady-state Superconducting Tokamak-1 (SST-1) is made of superconducting CICC with a void fraction of 40 %±2 %. For adequate cooling of magnets, supercritical helium at 4 bar and 4.5 K is forced-flown through the voids. Effect of temperature on mass flow rate and pressure drop in SST-1 CICC is studied in a 7 m long piece wound helically. The experimental friction factor of the CICC is also measured at different temperatures and flow rates and is compared with the standard Katheder equation and Tada equation. Also, based on the new findings obtained from the experimental results, the dimensionless Reynolds number has been slightly modified. This new number is used to propose a modified Katheder correlation for the friction factor in CICCs similar to that of SST-1.     

Antifungal,antiaflatoxin and antioxidant potential of chemically characterized Boswellia carterii Birdw essential oil and its in vivo practical applicability in preservation of Piper nigrum L. fruits

The study explores the chemical profile, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of Boswellia carterii essential oil (EO). The EO significantly inhibited growth and aflatoxin production by the food borne toxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus at 1.75 μl/ml and 1.25 μl/ml respectively. It exhibited broad fungitoxic spectrum against 12 food borne moulds and also showed strong antioxidant activity, IC₅₀ value and % inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation being 0.64 μl/ml and 51.68% respectively. The antifungal action of EO was observed in terms of reduction in ergosterol content of plasma membrane of A. flavus. As fumigant in food system in storage containers, the EO provided 65.38% protection against fungal deterioration of Piper nigrum. GC–MS results revealed 31 components of EO. The chemically characterized B. carterii EO may thus be recommended as plant based preservative in view of its antifungal, antiaflatoxigenic, antioxidant activity and efficacy in food system.     

Thermodynamic models for vapor-liquid equilibria of nitrogen + oxygen + carbon dioxide at low temperatures

For the design and optimization of CO₂ recovery from alcoholic fermentation processes by distillation, models for vapor-liquid equilibria (VLE) are needed. Two such thermodynamic models, the Peng-Robinson equation of state (EOS) and a model based on Henry’s law constants, are proposed for the ternary mixture N₂ + O₂ + CO₂. Pure substance parameters of the Peng-Robinson EOS are taken from the literature, whereas the binary parameters of the Van der Waals one-fluid mixing rule are adjusted to experimental binary VLE data. The Peng-Robinson EOS describes both binary and ternary experimental data well, except at high pressures approaching the critical region. A molecular model is validated by simulation using binary and ternary experimental VLE data. On the basis of this model, the Henry’s law constants of N₂ and O₂ in CO₂ are predicted by molecular simulation. An easy-to-use thermodynamic model, based on those Henry’s law constants, is developed to reliably describe the VLE in the CO₂-rich region.     

Fabrication of Integrated Vertical Mirror Surfaces and Transparent Window for Packaging MEMS Devices

A scheme for creating metal-coated vertical mirrors in silicon, along with an integrated transparent package lid for assembling, packaging, and testing microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices is presented. Deep reaction ion etching (DRIE) method described here reduces the loading effect and maintains a uniform etch rate resulting in highly vertical structures. A novel self-masking lithography and liftoff process was developed to ensure that the vertical mirrors undergo uniform metallization while leaving a transparent window for optical probing. Front side of a Si wafer was shallow-etched using DRIE to define an eventual optical window. This surface was then anodically bonded to a Pyrex wafer. Backside Si was then patterned to define thin channels around the optical window. These channels were vertically etched using DRIE, after which the unattached portions of the window region were removed. Negative photoresist was spun on the remaining vertical structures and the stack was exposed from the Pyrex side using Si structures as a self-mask. Subsequent metal sputtering and liftoff results in the metallized top and mirror sidewalls while leaving a clear window. These integrated mirrors and lids are then bonded to the active MEMS mirrors. Various processes and results are illustrated with an example of packaged corner cube retroreflectors (CCRs)     

A new algorithm for 2-D DOA estimation

In this paper we present a new algorithm to estimate the 2-D direction of arrival (DOA) of narrowband sources lying in the far field of the array. The array consists of matched co-directional triplets, and can be considered as an extension of the 1-D ESPRIT scenario to 2-D. The proposed approach is simple and direct and does not require a search procedure or initialization. Existing algorithms require a search to match the correct elevation and azimuth angles and are computationally more expensive. This technique automatically pairs the azimuth and elevation angles by marking them. The computational complexity is twice that of 1-D ESPRIT. Simulation results and comparisons with other existing algorithms are presented to demonstrate the performance of the proposed technique.     

Effect of annealing-temperature-assisted phase evolution on conductivity of solution combustion processed calcium vanadium oxide films

In this work, the effect of annealing temperature on the conductivity of solution-combustion-synthesized calcium vanadium oxide (CVO) films was studied. Conductivity was tailored by the appearance of the phases like \(\hbox {CaVO}_{3}\), \(\hbox {CaV}_{2}\hbox {O}_{5}\) and \(\hbox {Ca}_{2}\hbox {V}_{2}\hbox {O}_{7}\) as a function of annealing temperature; \(\hbox {CaVO}_{3}\) and \(\hbox {CaV}_{2}\hbox {O}_{5}\) are responsible for high conductivity, whereas \(\hbox {V}^{5+}\) presence in \(\hbox {Ca}_{2}\hbox {V}_{2}\hbox {O}_{7}\) contributes towards dielectric nature. Evolution of phases of CVO was identified through X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A detailed conductivity measurement as a function of annealing temperature helps us to identify the decreasing trend of conductivity with increasing temperature up to \(400{^{\circ }}\hbox {C}\); beyond this it behaves like an insulator. There was a stable conductivity while aging the films in ambient for a few days. This study revealed safe application temperature domain of CVO, and a clear correlation of electrical conductivity with the in-depth structural–compositional–morphological study.     

Computer-assisted prediction of by-products for industrial organic reactions

Prediction of by-products for industrial reactions is central to the design of chemical process plants. By-products are formed in every chemical reaction used to transform raw materials into desired products. It is important for the designer to know what by-products can possible form, in the event that they are explosive or toxic in nature. Also, since the formation of by-products is related to the reaction conditions, attempts to optimize the process conditions requires knowledge about the type and amounts of the by-products formed.In this paper, the problem of predicting by-products has been formalized. An interactive computer program named PRODUCTS, an acronym for Prediction of Reasonable Organic Derivatives Using Computer Techniques has been developed to predict the by-products formed in organic reactions. The program uses a data-base of sub-structure and mechanistic reactions to generate possible by-products.By-products have been generated by the PRODUCTS program for an alkane oxidation example.